Altronix NETWAY4EX 4-Port Gigabit PoE Switch with Fiber SFP
Overview
The Altronix NETWAY4EX is a managed layer 2+ Ethernet switch designed for security integrators requiring flexible, hardened network infrastructure with integrated power delivery and battery backup. Built on the LINQ platform, this unit combines four 10/100/1000 Mbps PoE/PoE+ ports with a single 1G fiber SFP uplink, all mounted within a compact metal BC300 indoor enclosure. The system delivers 120W of integrated power from a hardened supply and battery charger board, with configurable output modes supporting up to 2 × 60W Hi-PoE per port where needed.
Key Features
- Four Gigabit Copper Ports: 10/100/1000 Mbps auto-sensing Ethernet ports with selectable PoE or PoE+ per port
- Single 1G Fiber Uplink: SFP slot for fiber connectivity, enabling long-distance backbone and noise immunity in high-EMI environments
- 120W Integrated Power Supply: Hardened power supply and battery charger board rated for 120W total output
- Configurable Hi-PoE Delivery: Switchable modes support standard PoE (15.4W), PoE+ (30W), or up to 2 × 60W Hi-PoE configurations per port pair
- LINQ Protocol Support: Native LINQ supervision and control for integrated system management across Altronix equipment
- Battery Backup Ready: Onboard battery charger board enables UPS integration for continuous operation during power loss
- Industrial Metal Enclosure: Compact BC300 form factor with internal switch and power boards for protection in indoor installations
- Layer 2+ Management: VLAN, QoS, port mirroring, and link aggregation for network segmentation and traffic control
Integration & Compatibility
The NETWAY4EX integrates natively with Altronix LINQ-enabled devices, including access control systems, video encoders, and intercom endpoints. The fiber SFP slot supports standard MSA transceivers for compatibility with existing fiber backbone infrastructure. Four copper ports accept any standard powered IP camera, access control reader, or network device requiring PoE or PoE+ power and data. The 120W power budget supports simultaneous operation of multiple high-power devices, with flexible Hi-PoE configuration enabling deployment of power-intensive equipment such as PTZ cameras or long-throw illuminators.
Package Contents
Altronix NETWAY4EX switch and power supply/charger board assembly mounted in BC300 metal enclosure, ready for rack or wall installation.
Eden PhillipsPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
The Altronix NETWAY4EX delivers the right balance of hardened networking and power delivery for mid-scale security and access control installations. During deployment planning, I found the combination of four copper PoE ports and single fiber uplink particularly useful for facilities requiring isolated network segments with high-reliability backbone connectivity. The NETWAY4EX sits between basic unmanaged switches and enterprise platforms—appropriate for integrators who need supervised network infrastructure with battery backup but don't require complex routing or redundancy features.
Technical Highlights:
- Fiber Uplink: Single 1G SFP slot removes EMI concerns and enables runs beyond copper distance limits, essential in industrial campuses or multi-building sites
- Flexible Hi-PoE: Configurable 60W per pair allows a single switch to serve both standard PoE cameras and power-hungry devices without secondary power supplies
- Integrated Battery Charger: Onboard charging circuit simplifies UPS integration, reducing installation complexity and BOM cost
Deployment Considerations:
- Verify fiber SFP transceiver compatibility with your existing backbone—standard multimode or singlemode MSA modules work, but procurement lead times matter in dense deployments
- Test Hi-PoE configuration in lab before field rollout; some legacy PoE devices may not handshake correctly with 60W modes
- Plan battery capacity carefully—120W supply supports modest backup runtime; calculate based on active device count, not theoretical maximum
- Mount in conditioned space or use optional heater—the metal BC300 enclosure offers protection but can trap heat in outdoor cabinets
Recommended for integrators deploying 4–8 PoE devices per node with one uplink to a central monitoring station or network core. The LINQ integration and battery backup justify the cost premium over consumer switches for supervised, mission-critical installs.
